Tenant referencing in Derby
For landlords and letting agents letting in Derby: one link per applicant, thorough checks, and a report that explains its outcome. £14.99 per applicant.
Renting in Derby
Derby has a large stock of Victorian and Edwardian terraces in inner areas such as Normanton, Arboretum and Pear Tree, where private renting and shared houses are common. The University of Derby brings student lets around the Kedleston Road campus and the city centre. Further out are inter-war and post-war suburbs and council-built estates, with large new-build estates on the city's edges.
The income a tenant needs in Derby
We check that a tenant’s yearly income is at least 30 times their monthly share of the rent, and that a guarantor earns at least 3 times the yearly rent they guarantee, with enough disposable income left each month to pay it. At Derby’s average rent:
Income comes from the most reliable source: the salary the employer confirms, then payslips, then what was declared, checked against three months of bank statements.
| Monthly rent | Tenant needs a year | Guarantor needs a year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average home, one tenant | £871 | £26,130 | £31,356 |
| Shared by two | £436 each | £13,065 each | £15,678 |
| Shared by three | £290 each | £8,710 each | £10,452 |
Landlord licensing in Derby
Selective licensing: No selective licensing scheme.
HMOs: No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. Planning permission is needed to turn homes into HMOs in parts of the city (Article 4 direction).
Fee: £1,368 for a new HMO licence of up to six bedrooms, £1,121 to renew (2026/27)
As checked in October 2026. The council’s page Schemes change: confirm with Derby City Council before letting. Private renting at the council.
Referencing a tenant in Derby
- Add the tenancyThe property, the rent, the move-in date and the applicant. Their link is emailed at once.
- They apply on their phoneFive years of addresses, work, 3 months of bank statements, payslips and ID, in about 10 minutes.
- We contact the refereesTheir employer, current and previous landlord, by email, automatically.
- You get the reportEvery check, the income from every source, and how we reached the outcome.
Where people rent in Derby
City centre and Cathedral Quarter
DE1Georgian and Victorian buildings, flats over shops and converted mills and offices.
Normanton
DE23Dense Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many privately let.
Arboretum
DE23Victorian terraces and larger villas near the Derby Arboretum, many split into flats or shared houses.
Pear Tree
DE23Rows of late Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses.
Allestree
DE22Mostly post-war semis and detached houses on large estates in the north of the city.
Littleover and Mickleover
DE23, DE3Inter-war and post-war suburbs with large modern estates on the edges.
Chaddesden and Spondon
DE21Post-war council-built estates and private semis in the east of the city.
Alvaston
DE24Inter-war and post-war semis and terraces near the River Derwent.
Postcode districts: DE1, DE3, DE21, DE22, DE23, DE24, DE65, DE73
Tenant referencing in Derby: questions
How much does tenant referencing cost in Derby?
£14.99 per applicant with Rentwick, the same for tenants and guarantors, paid by the landlord or agent. Tenants in England can’t be charged for referencing.
What income do tenants need to rent in Derby?
At Derby’s average private rent of £871 a month (ONS), a tenant renting alone would need about £26,130 a year (30 times the monthly rent). Sharers each need 30 times their own share. A guarantor would need about £31,356 a year (3 times the yearly rent) and enough disposable income to cover it.
Do landlords need a licence to let in Derby?
No selective licensing scheme. No additional HMO licensing scheme: only mandatory licensing, for HMOs with five or more people from two or more households. Planning permission is needed to turn homes into HMOs in parts of the city (Article 4 direction). (as checked in October 2026; confirm with Derby City Council before letting).
How long does a tenant reference take in Derby?
The applicant applies on their phone in about 10 minutes. We email their employer and landlords straight away, so most references are back within a few working days, depending on how quickly the referees reply.
What does the reference check?
Three months of bank statements, payslips, income from every source, the employer, current and previous landlords, five years of addresses and a credit check, with AI comparing every document with the application.
For tenants: Private tenants with disrepair or safety problems can contact Derby City Council's private sector housing team.